SUNY Impact Tax Credit

What is the NYS Charitable Tax Credit Program?

Make a powerful impact at SUNY Adirondack - and benefit from tax savings.

This fall, make a charitable gift through the SUNY Adirondack Foundation to support students, programs, existing funds, or other causes that reflect your philanthropic goals. Eligible gifts may also qualify for extraordinary state tax credits through the New York State Charitable Tax Credit Program, administered by the SUNY Impact Foundation. Created to encourage philanthropy across New York, the program enables eligible donors to maximize both their charitable impact and their state tax benefits.

For the sum of qualified contributions in 2026, a donor will have the following tax benefits:

• New York State: 85 percent of the qualified contribution is a refundable tax credit against NYS income tax, and 15 percent of the qualified contribution can be a deduction against NYS income tax. A donor can benefit from both a deduction and credit on their NYS personal income tax return.

• Federal: 15 percent of the qualified contribution can be a deduction against federal income tax.

Eligibility:

• Only individuals are eligible. 
  Donations through family foundations, donor advised funds and corporations are not eligible for this program.
• Individuals must have a New York state tax liability to participate in this program.
  New York City, or local taxes, are not eligible. Donors should have a tax liability in New York state for at least the amount of the requested tax credit.
• Donations qualifying under the program must be between a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $100,000 per donor/tax filing. If you choose to give $10,000, it may be prorated below the program’s original minimum but will still qualify for the tax credits.
• Approval from the SUNY Impact Foundation is required to participate. 
  Approval is granted following a successful application process. See below for application deadlines and details.

Please contact your tax professional to determine if this program is a good fit for your personal circumstances.

How does it work?

• To participate with a gift in support of SUNY Adirondack, please contact Megan Mercier in the Foundation Office to discuss your gift and receive an online application from the SUNY Impact Foundation.

• Once the application has been submitted, the SUNY Impact Foundation will issue an acknowledgment of application. After Oct. 1, the SUNY Impact Foundation will send the donor an authorization certificate that includes the approved donation amount (which may be prorated), along with payment instructions.

• Once the authorization certificate has been received, donors can make their donations.

• At the completion of the program, the SUNY Impact Foundation will distribute the gifts received to the SUNY Adirondack Foundation.

Directing Your Gift:

The SUNY Adirondack Foundation encourages donors to support the areas that matter most to them. We recommend the following opportunities:

• SUNY Adirondack Fund: Provides flexible, unrestricted support for the College's highest priorities, including academic programs and emerging needs.
• SUNY Adirondack Cares Fund: Helps students facing unexpected financial hardships by providing emergency assistance for essentials such as food, housing, transportation, textbooks, childcare, and other critical expenses.
• Existing Program Funds: Support an established program fund to advance student success, academic excellence, workforce development, or another area aligned with your philanthropic interests.
• Create a New Fund: Establish a named endowment, or other fund to create a lasting legacy at SUNY Adirondack. To learn more, contact the Foundation at foundation@sunyacc.edu.

Please note contributions may be used for direct grants to students for any unmet financial needs as long as the grants are not classified as scholarships or tuition assistance.

How can I make my gift?

Only gifts of stock, cash (wire transfers and credit cards only), or a combination of the two are accepted. Checks are not accepted.

• Cash: Wire transfer payable to the SUNY Impact Foundation, Inc. or credit card (a payment link will be sent to you directly from the SUNY Impact Foundation). Payment deadline is Nov. 25, 2026.

• Stocks: Evaluated at market value on the day of receipt. Stock orders must be placed by Nov. 23, 2026. (Please note that stock gifts are processed through the University at Buffalo Foundation, but your gift will be conveyed to SUNY Adirondack through the SUNY Impact Foundation.)

Please note:

• Donations through family foundations, donor advised funds, S-corps, or corporations are not eligible for this program. Wire transfers and securities must come from a personal account.

• Once the payment method has been submitted on the application it cannot be changed.

• No in-kind donations are allowed under this program.

What are the important dates?

• Aug. 4, 2026: Online application will be available
• Sept. 30, 2026: Applications close
• Oct. 2026: Authorizations to be emailed to donors directly from the SUNY Impact Foundation
• Nov. 23, 2026: Deadline to make a gift of stocks (processed through the University at Buffalo Foundation)
• Nov. 25, 2026: Deadline to make a donation
• Jan. 2027: Tax receipts will be processed
• March 2027: Funds transferred to SUNY Adirondack where allocations will be directed per intentions of participant

Please note the credit cannot roll forward into a future tax year, nor can it fulfill previous tax obligations.

Other important details:

• All donations are subject to a 2 percent administrative processing fee from the SUNY Impact Foundation; Credit card gifts are subject to an additional 3 percent fee.

• Donors should use personal contact information (not business), including their personal email address.

• To take full advantage of the tax credit, the donor should have a tax liability in NYS at least equal to the amount of the requested tax credit.

• Statutory language of the NYS Charitable Tax Credit for Higher Education can be found within Chapter 59 of the laws of 2018, Part LL (references Article 22 and Section 606 of NYS tax law).